Nature Friendly: Good news about our great outdoors

My friendship with Judge Jeff Almquist, former supervisor for District 5, goes back many years to when he and many of us worked together on logging issues, even traveling to Sacramento to speak before the Board of Forestry. He is that rare person who has the ability to see both sides.
We talked recently about being natives of other states — he is from New Jersey and I am from Texas. But we are both enthusiastic transplants, as converts usually are. We agreed we had found a place that not only fits our values but honors its natural resources: Santa Cruz County.
When I lived in Dallas, landscape was always described as “undeveloped,” because there was little respect for native habitat and open spaces. The policy seemed to be, “Start your land movers! Full speed ahead!” Perhaps attitudes are now tempered by environmental values.
Recently, at the Sempervirens’ Founders Dinner, executive director Reed Holderman, said, “Yes, these parks and national forest preserve beautiful and magnificent redwoods and landscapes, but they do much, much more. We are not just building parks, even great ones; we are building and maintaining a nation of common values based on our long history and connection with the land.”
I always leave those dinners filled with hope for the environment and goodwill to the many who protect it.
(Though timber companies have been amenable to selling to conservation groups, such as Sempervirens, in our down economy, I have heard that the destruction in Japan could be a boon to loggers in Canada and the United States.)
According to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, “The Santa Clara Valley’s orchards became the Silicon Valley, and the Highway 101 corridor has extended the Bay Area all the way to Salinas, but Santa Cruz County has retained its open spaces and rural feeling. Only 12 percent of our county is developed.”
The land trust, however, is building a corridor, the Pajaro Corridor, with the help of four other conservation organizations, including Sempervirens. Through the Living Landscape Initiative, the group will focus on protecting 80,000 acres of coast, forest and land that connects our three regional mountain ranges.
In June, “After two years of work — including consultations with 120 technical experts, four community forums, and scores of one-on-one meetings,” the Land Trust will complete its Conservation Blueprint, which will mirror the focus of the initiative.
County Supervisor Mark Stone says his top environmental priority for the year is the county-wide implementation of the plastic bag ban. “By next month, we will have the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) and towns will need to follow the policy,” he said. “Also, retailers can charge a fee for plastic bags and be able to keep the fee as an incentive for the store. It will be an incentive, too, for customers to bring their own bags.”
“Plastic bags are ending up in water courses and oceans, and that’s abominable,” explained Stone, who is also on the California Coastal Commission. “A quarter of plastic bags end up in the landfill, which they shouldn’t, and recycling is practically nil, so where are they?”
At 10 a.m. April 2, Stone will officiate at the Ben Lomond Park Improvements Ribbon-Cutting and Basketball Tournament. Bob Olson, county park planner, proudly said, “We have state-of-the-art features, like the Evos climbing structure,” age-specific play areas, new picnic tables and paths, and a renovated basketball court. Leashed dogs are allowed.
Go by and shake hands with the hardworking volunteers and county parks staff, including Olson; Joe Schultz, director; and Christine James, park planner, for beautifying our riverside.
All in all, this transplant can report that our land and waters are well tended.
Carol Carson is a nature writer and educator. She has been a docent at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, taught classes on Big Basin State Park for UCSC Extension, and organizes nature walks through a grant from the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. She can be reached at ca****@ca*********.com.